Fitness equipment

ABSTRACT

A fitness equipment includes a first bar, a pedal unit, two swing arms, a driving unit and a vertical damping unit. The first bar includes a frame carrying two rotating shafts. The pedal unit includes two sleeves respectively sleeved onto the rotating shafts. The two swing arms are respectively connected to the sleeves and two pedal levers respectively pivotally connected to the swing arms. The driving unit includes two detent wheels respectively affixed to the rotating shafts and two flexible detent members respectively connected between the detent wheels and the pedal levers. The vertical damping unit is drivable by the driving unit to impart the pedal levers with a damping in response to the vertical vector. Subject to mating between the rotating shafts and the sleeves, the present invention simplifies the composition of the fitness equipment and significantly reduces its cost.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to sports equipment, and more particularly to a fitness equipment with simple structure, easy installation and low manufacturing cost.

2. Description of the Related Art

A conventional fitness equipment (US 2013/0053218) is known comprising a frame, a pedal unit, a driving unit and a vertical damping unit. The frame comprises a bottom frame member, an upright column affixed to the bottom frame member, a supporting rack connected to the upright column and the bottom frame member, and an axle connected between the upright column and the supporting rack. The pedal unit comprises a pair of linking members respectively rotatably sleeved onto two opposite ends of the axle, a pair of sleeves respectively sleeved onto the linking members, a pair of swing arms respectively connected to the sleeves, and a pair of pedal levers respectively pivotally connected to the swing arms. The driving unit comprises a pair of detent ropes respectively coupled between the linking members and the pedal levers and slidably inserted through the supporting rack. The damping unit is mounted at the frame, and drivable by the driving unit to impart a damping to the pedal levers.

This design of fitness equipment allows the user to exercise via fitness stepping actions. However, in this prior art design, the axle is fixed and immovable, the linking members of the pedal unit are respectively rotatably mounted on the two opposite ends of the axle and the sleeves are respectively sleeved onto the linking members. Thus, the conventional fitness equipment has many component parts which require a complicated installation procedure, and also has a high manufacturing cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is the main object of the present invention to provide a fitness equipment, which has the characteristics of simple structure, ease of installation and low manufacturing cost.

To achieve this and other objects of the invention, a fitness equipment comprises a frame, a pedal unit, a driving unit, and a vertical damping unit. The frame comprises a bottom frame member, an upright column affixed to the bottom frame member, a supporting rack connected to the upright column and the bottom frame member, and a pair of rotating shafts rotatably mounted between the upright column and the supporting rack. The pedal unit comprises a pair of sleeves respectively rotatably sleeved onto the rotating shafts, a pair of swing arms respectively connected to the sleeves, a pair of pedal levers respectively pivotally connected to the swing arms, and a pair of pedals respectively mounted at the pedal levers. Each pedal lever comprises a front end portion pivotally connected to one respective swing arm, and an opposing rear end portion movable up and down relative to one respective swing arm. The driving unit comprises a pair of detent wheels respectively fixedly connected to the rotating shafts, and a pair of flexible members respectively connected between the detent wheels and the pedal levers and adapted for mechanically resisting the rotation of the rotating shafts. The vertical damping unit is mounted at the frame near the upright column, and drivable by the driving unit to provide a damping to each pedal lever in response to the vertical vector.

The present invention has the following effects: by means of rotatably mounting the rotating shafts between the upright column and the supporting rack and rotatably mounting the sleeves on the respective rotating shafts, the detent wheels can mechanically resist the rotation of the rotating shafts when driven by the flexible detent members, thus achieving generation of the expected damping. Further, the mating arrangement of the component parts simplifies the structure of the fitness equipment and significantly reduces its manufacturing cost.

Other advantages and features of the present invention will be fully understood by reference to the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference signs denote like components of structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fitness equipment in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic exploded view of a part of the fitness equipment in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the fitness equipment in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line V-V of FIG. 3.

It should be noted that the drawing figures are not necessarily drawn to scale, but instead are drawn to provide a better understanding of the components thereof, and are not intended to be limiting in scope, but rather to provide exemplary illustrations. It should further be noted that the figures illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present invention and the components thereof, and in no way limits the structures, configurations and components thereof according to the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a fitness equipment in accordance with the present invention is shown. As illustrated, the fitness equipment comprises a frame 10, a pedal unit 20, a driving unit 30, a vertical damping unit 40, a linking-up unit 50, and a horizontal damping unit 60.

Referring also to FIG. 5, the frame 10 comprises a bottom frame member 11, an upright column 12 fixedly mounted at the bottom frame member 11, a supporting rack 13 connected to the upright column 12 and the bottom frame member 11, a pair of rotating shafts 14 rotatably disposed on a top end of the upright column 12 and the supporting rack 13, a plurality of axle bearings 15 sleeved onto the rotating shafts 14, and two axle housings 16 respectively affixed to the top end of the upright column 12 and the supporting rack 13. The upright column 12 has a pair of guide wheels 121 mounted at a middle part thereof. The supporting rack 13 comprises a U-shaped, tubular top frame tube 131, and a pair of pulleys 132 respectively pivotally mounted at two distal ends of the top frame tube 131. The top frame tube 131 has two openings 133 located in a top side thereof. The two axle housings 16 are respectively affixed to the top frame tube 131 of the supporting rack 13 adjacent to the openings 133.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4 and FIG. 5 again, the pedal unit 20 comprises a pair of sleeves 21 respectively sleeved onto the rotating shafts 14 and rotatable relative to the respective rotating shafts 14, a pair of swing arms 22 respectively connected to the sleeves 21, a pair of pedal levers 23 respectively pivotally connected to the swing arms 22, and a pair of pedals 24 respectively mounted at the pedal levers 23. Each sleeve 21 comprises a linking-up rod 211 extending radially therefrom and an upwardly extended grip 212. Each pedal lever 23 has a front end portion 231 pivotally connected to a bottom end of the associating swing arm 22, and an opposing rear end portion 232 upwardly and downwardly movable relative to the associating swing arm 22. The pedals 24 are respectively mounted at the rear end portions 232 of the respective pedal levers 23.

The driving unit 30 comprises a pair of detent wheels 31 respectively affixed to the rotating shafts 14 and respectively partially inserted in the openings 133, a pair of flexible detent members 32 connected between the detent wheels 31 and the pedal levers 23, a pair of driven wheels 33 respectively affixed to the rotating shafts 13, and a pair of flexible linking members 34 respectively connected between the driven wheels 33 and the frame 10. The detent wheels 31 are adapted to mechanically resist the rotation of the rotating shafts 14. Each flexible detent member 32 comprises a detent end 321 affixed to and wound round the outer perimeter of the associating detent wheel 31, a connection end 322 connected to the rear end portion 232 of one associating pedal lever 23, and a middle body portion 323 connected between the detent end 321 and the connection end 322 and is inserted through the U-shaped, tubular top frame bar 131 of the supporting rack 13 and extended over the associating pulley 132. The driven wheels 33 are respectively rotatable by the respective rotating shafts 14. Each flexible linking member 34 has a driven end 341 affixed to and wound round the outer perimeter of one associating driven wheel 33, and a positioning end 342 connected to the bottom frame member 11. Further, the flexible linking members 34 are respectively extended over the respective guide wheels 121.

The vertical damping unit 40 is mounted in the frame 10 near the upright column 12 and drivable by the driving unit 30 to impart a damping to the pedal levers 23 in response to the vertical vector Y. The vertical damping unit 40 comprises a brake wheel 41 mounted at the upright column 12 of the frame 10, a driving wheel 42 mounted at the bottom frame member 11 at one side relative to the brake wheel 41, a transmission member 43 connected between the brake wheel 41 and the driving wheel 42, a crankshaft 44 fixedly connected to the driving wheel 42, and a pair of guide wheels 45 respectively pivotally mounted at two opposite ends of the crankshaft 44 in an eccentric manner relative to the driving wheel 42. The flexible linking members 34 are respectively extended over the guide wheels 45 for mechanically resisting the rotation of the guide wheels 45, driving the driving wheel 42 to rotate and causing the brake wheel 41 to produce a damping in response to the vertical vector Y.

Referring also to FIG. 4, the linking-up unit 50 comprises a rocker arm 51 turnable back and forth relative to the upright column 12, a pair of drag members 52 respectively affixed to two opposite ends of the rocker arm 51, and a pair of linkages 53 respectively pivotally connected between the two opposite ends of the rocker arm 51 and the linking-up rods 211 of the sleeves 21.

Referring also to FIG. 4, the horizontal damping unit 60 comprises a damping wheel 61 pivotally mounted at the upright column 12 of the frame 10, and a transmission member 62 coupled between the damping wheel 61 and the drag members 52. The damping wheel 61 comprises a gear 611. In this embodiment, the transmission member 62 is a single-sided toothed bar meshed with the gear 611 and the drag members 52. Using the sleeves 21 to drive the rocker arm 51 to oscillate and to simultaneously move the drag members 52 back and forth via the linking-up unit 50 can cause the transmission member 62 to rotate the damping wheel 61, imparting a damping to the pedal unit 20 in response to the horizontal vector X.

Referring also to FIG. 3, when the operator steps on the pedals 24 of the fitness equipment and alternately gives pressure to the two pedals 24 and the respective pedal levers 23 through two legs, the swing arms 22 and the horizontal damping unit 60 are not movable. At this time, the rear end portions 232 of the pedals 23 are respectively forced to drag the respective flexible detent members 32. Subject to the effect that the detent ends 321 of the flexible detent members 32 are affixed to and wound around the outer perimeter of the respective detent wheels 31, and the effect that the detent wheels 31 are respectively affixed to the rotating shafts 14, the flexible detent members 32 mechanically resist the rotation of the rotating shafts 14 relative to the frame 10. Further, when the rotating shafts 14 are driven to rotate, they can drive the respective driven wheels 33 to rotate. Subject to the effect that the driven ends 341 of the flexible linking members 34 are respectively affixed to and wound around the outer perimeter of the respective driven wheels 33, the flexible detent members 32 mechanically resist the movement of the flexible linking members 34, and the flexible linking members 34 mechanically resist the rotation of the guide wheels 45 and drive the driving wheels 42 to rotate. This causes the brake wheel 45 to generate a damping in response to the vertical vector Y, and thus the operator can train the muscles of the legs.

When the operator steps on the pedals 24 and alternately gives a forward pressure to the pedals 24, in addition to the generation of the aforesaid damping in response to the vertical vector Y, the front end portions 231 of the pedal levers 23 drive the bottom ends of the respective swing arms 22. Accordingly, the swing arms 22 alternately move the respective sleeves 21 back and forth relative to the respective rotating shafts 14 and the frame 10. At the same time, the linking-up rods 211 of the respective sleeves 21 drive the respective linking-up rods 53 of the linking-up unit 50 to oscillate the rocker arm 51 relative to the upright column 12, causing the rocker arm 51 to move the drag members 52 back and forth. Thus, the transmission member 62 can be driven to rotate the damping wheel 61 in generating a damping in response to the horizontal vector X, and the operator can therefore train the muscles of the legs.

Thus, the operator can operate the fitness equipment under different operating modes to generate: (1) damping in response to the horizontal vector X, (2) damping in response to the vertical vector Y, and (3) the combination of damping in response to the horizontal vector X and damping in response to the vertical vector Y. The present invention allows the operator to select different operating modes to meet different requirements, such as: the operating mode of forward-backward sliding, the operating mode of stepping up and down, and the operating mode of forward-backward and up-down elliptical trajectory.

In conclusion, the present invention has the rotating shafts 14 rotatably mounted between the upright column 12 and the supporting rack 13, and the sleeves 21 of the pedal unit 20 respectively and rotatably sleeved onto the rotating shafts 14. This arrangement provides for simplifying the linking structure between the pedal unit 20 and the driving unit 30, facilitating the installation process and reducing the number of component parts and the cost of equipment.

Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A fitness equipment, comprising: a frame comprising a bottom frame member, an upright column affixed to said bottom frame member, a supporting rack connected to said upright column and said bottom frame member, and a pair of rotating shafts rotatably mounted between said upright column and said supporting rack; a pedal unit comprising a pair of sleeves respectively rotatably sleeved onto said rotating shafts, a pair of swing arms respectively connected to said sleeves, a pair of pedal levers respectively pivotally connected to said swing arms and a pair of pedals respectively mounted at said pedal levers, each pedal lever comprising a front end portion pivotally and correspondingly connected to the corresponding swing arm and an opposing rear end portion upwardly and downwardly movable relative to the corresponding swing arm; a driving unit comprising a pair of detent wheels respectively fixedly connected to said rotating shafts and a pair of flexible members respectively connected between said detent wheels and said pedal levers and adapted for mechanically resisting the rotation of said rotating shafts; and a vertical damping unit mounted at said frame near said upright column and drivable by said driving unit to provide a damping to each said pedal lever in response to the vertical vector.
 2. The fitness equipment as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said flexible member comprises a detent end affixed to and wound around the outer perimeter of one respective said detent wheel, an opposing connection end connected to the rear end portion of one respective said pedal lever, and a middle body portion connected between said detent end and said connection end and slidably inserted through said supporting rack.
 3. The fitness equipment as claimed in claim 1, wherein said driving unit further comprises a pair of driven wheels respectively affixed to said rotating shafts, and a pair of flexible linking members respectively connected between said driven wheels and said frame; said vertical damping unit comprises a brake wheel pivotally mounted at said frame, a driving wheel pivotally mounted at said bottom frame member at one side relative to said brake wheel, a transmission member coupled to said brake wheel and said driving wheel, a crankshaft affixed to said driving wheel, and a pair of guide wheels respectively pivotally mounted at two opposite ends of said crankshaft at an eccentric location relative to said driving wheel; said flexible linking members are respectively extended over said guide wheels for resisting the rotation of said guide wheels and driving said driving wheels to rotate to further cause said brake wheel to generate a damping in response to the vertical vector.
 4. The fitness equipment as claimed in claim 2, wherein said driving unit further comprises a pair of driven wheels respectively affixed to said rotating shafts, and a pair of flexible linking members respectively connected between said driven wheels and said frame; said vertical damping unit comprises a brake wheel pivotally mounted at said frame, a driving wheel pivotally mounted at said bottom frame member at one side relative to said brake wheel, a transmission member coupled to said brake wheel and said driving wheel, a crankshaft affixed to said driving wheel, and a pair of guide wheels respectively pivotally mounted at two opposite ends of said crankshaft at an eccentric location relative to said driving wheel; said flexible linking members are respectively extended over said guide wheels for resisting the rotation of said guide wheels and driving said driving wheels to rotate to further cause said brake wheel to generate a damping in response to the vertical vector.
 5. The fitness equipment as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said sleeve of said pedal unit comprises a linking-up rod radially extended from the periphery thereof; the fitness equipment further comprises a linking-up unit, said linking-up unit comprising a rocker arm turnable back and forth relative to said upright column, a pair of drag members respectively affixed to two opposite ends of said rocker arm, and a pair of linkages respectively pivotally connected between the two opposite ends of said rocker arm and the linking-up rods of said sleeves.
 6. The fitness equipment as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a horizontal damping unit movable by said linking-up unit, said horizontal damping unit comprising a damping wheel pivotally mounted at said frame and a transmission member coupled between said damping wheel and said drag members; said rocker arm is drivable by said sleeves through said linking-up unit to move said drag members back and forth, causing said transmission member to rotate said damping wheel in providing said swing arms with a damping in response to the horizontal vector.
 7. The fitness equipment as claimed in claim 6, wherein said damping wheel comprises a gear; said transmission member is a single-sided toothed bar meshed with said gear and said drag members.
 8. The fitness equipment as claimed in claim 1, wherein said frame further comprises a plurality of axle bearings respectively sleeved onto said rotating shafts to support said rotating shafts on said frame, and two axle housings respectively affixed to said upright column and said supporting rack.
 9. The fitness equipment as claimed in claim 1, wherein said upright column comprises a pair of guide wheels mounted at a middle part thereof; said supporting rack comprises a U-shaped, tubular top frame tube, and a pair of pulleys respectively pivotally mounted at two distal ends of said top frame tube, said top frame tube having two openings located in a top side thereof; said two axle housings are respectively affixed to said top frame tube of said supporting rack adjacent to said openings.
 10. The fitness equipment as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said sleeve comprises a radially outwardly extended linking-up rod and an upwardly extended grip; said pedals are respectively mounted at the rear end portions of the respective said pedal levers. 